Uncivically Engaged

I did not abstain due to distaste for the candidates. I wasn’t traveling that day, nor was my ballot misplaced. I just didn’t vote. Living overseas makes for some difficult voting processes, to be sure, but even if things were easy I wouldn’t have voted.

*The embassy is really hard to get to from here, and the lines are long. Security takes forever.

I know what my father’s generation would say. “It’s our Christian duty to vote for good family values. We need another Ronald Reagan. Only pinkos don’t vote. Tom Landry wouldn’t have stood for this…”

If we are called to respect our government and our leaders, does that imply that we must participate in the selection process? Does the notion of civic duty rise to the level of Christian moral obligation? Can we ever excuse ourselves from the process?

I suppose we could do with a short, non-comprehensive biblical summary.

In summary, we should choose godly leadership, respect our leaders, obey our leaders, and pray for them. If we have a selection process, any role we play should focus on selecting God-honoring leaders when we have such an option.

_____________

Folks local to where I live these days aren’t really into secrets. Information – much of it accurate – flows freely through cliques and communities, and few topics are truly off-limits. As a newly-arrived resident I hope to become more and more a part of this Muslim community. I shop locally. Eat locally. Ask for help from the tailor around the corner or the guy at the 10′ x 20′ hardware superstore. I try spending time at the community center. Declining to answer questions in this open society is tantamount to saying I really don’t want to be known.

And yes, I’ve gotten a few questions.

Over the last few weeks I’ve faced a few “Trump? You like him?” queries. Waiters, friends, people at tea houses – they want my American Christian opinion of the new American president. In other words, Muslim residents of a Muslim country that needs Christ want to know my American Christian opinion of a divisive American (and presumed to be Christian) leader.

If I supported Trump, his every decision will stick to me like corn syrup on a dog. In light of how his recent travel bans have been portrayed in the international media, I’m relieved I didn’t vote for him. If I support the only opponent to Trump folks here know (Clinton), her opinions become my opinions.

Put yourself in my position: I could participate in the election, and honestly answer the questions about how I voted. Or I could abstain from voting, openly labeling each candidate as reprehensible to my Christian sensitivities. Staying out of politics would enable me to be a more effective witness in the country where I live. Which is the greater command: to respect my government through participation, or to evangelize the nations?

Like this:

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Pray for us over here in the States. The people who sold themselves to Trump for a “seat at the table” make it harder for those of us working in the real world.

Thanks for sharing and may God give you fruit for your labors.

February 14, 2017 8:21 am

Louis

Abson:

Of course some people didn’t “sell themselves.” They actually believed Trump was the better candidate.

February 14, 2017 10:36 am

Bill Mac

That is ultimately the decision I came to, although I don’t live overseas. I’m not compelled by culture to openly discuss my political or religious views but I have always done so, and so I felt I had to make it clear that I supported neither candidate, especially Trump (since no one assumed I would support Clinton).

Initially dismissive of this article, upon further reflection, I must confess that it is perhaps the most Biblically-principled and missionally-minded opinion piece I have encountered to date regarding the most recent Presidential election. Thanks, Ethan, for your thought-provoking words!

February 14, 2017 10:16 am

Eric C

I think that this is an easy call and not a big issue unless you want it to be and get into politics. Why not just state I am here to share the Gospel and want nothing to distract from the issue. You can be a Democrat or Republican, love or hate Trump but that is not what your mission is. I believe most people anywhere would respect and understand not wanting to distract from your faith message with political overtone. I had a nice talk with a very educated Muslim and never thought of asking him about the politics of Iran, he was telling me about his beliefs. I think that a lot of Christian leaders especially in the SBC want to make it clear they are never Trump and they took a stand and want us all to know of it. Has a Trump supporter lost his Christian values and the right to share the Gospel? Of course not , but why make his support of Trump or Clinton the focus of his encounter. A polite I am here to share the Gospel not talk about American internal politics seems to me to be a good answer. If someone was trying to convert me to Islam and I kept asking about the politics of Iran why would I do that? Would I have to ask about the politics of all Muslim countries to understand Islam. I think this is self made issue. It is easy , stay out of politics when spreading the Gospel.

Having been in similar circumstances, I empathize with the conundrum posited here. And there were times I didn’t vote–for similar reasons, along with the relative amount of hassle involved. But I throw out the following points for further consideration:

1. What if there were a candidate you could more or less enthusiastically support? Would it change your stance on this?

2. What about third-party candidates?

3. Ultimately, as disciple-makers, we want to model behavior we would like to see our disciples imitate. Is political non-involvement the best path of discipleship in the various cultural contexts of the world? Perhaps in some and not in others? I myself am not totally sure. But I think it is something worth thinking about.

Thinking it over a bit more, even if you didn’t vote, they still want to know what you think about these things. I think for this reason—which holds true Stateside as well—we really need to think through our positions on these questions through a gospel grid. People are looking for answers to the big questions in life, and for many of them this includes politics. We need to be ready to present an answer that adequately reflects the love of God and a biblically-based worldview. I think this is especially true for many Muslims, whose religious and political views are so intertwined.

I liked Bush the Younger back when I lived in a non-Muslim country. I thought nothing of answering questions about my political preferences. Responses proved to me that my friends were interpreting American politics through their local cultural eyes. No amount of attempting to explain immigration policies, tax law, or anything else was going to help them see my position. They were less passionate than my current neighbors, and there was no harm done.

As for third party candidates, they received no press here locally and I doubt anyone would have heard of them. Even so, I’ve reached the point of not voting.

But you are absolutely correct. When they ask me about Trump and immigration (and anything else), I’ll need to have an answer, one that points back to better, more vital topics. At least I won’t have a tag slapped on me for supporting (or opposing) whoever is in office.

And that’s the goal, because passions run hot and get in the way of better topics.

February 14, 2017 1:42 pm

Louis

Ethan:

I would never criticize you for your position.

This is a personal decision, and you have to navigate your way through.

One alternative might be to explain that in the U.S. people’s votes are private. No one has to tell others how they vote, and no one can find out how you vote. That, alone, may give them an appreciation for a distinct cultural difference.

Also, my only experience with Muslims that was a close one was from high school. We had some Iranians come to our high school in the late 70s. I was a new Christian and was pretty outgoing and explained to this Muslim young man how that the U.S. was “Christian” in tradition and name, but not in conduct and morals because most people were not really Christian. It was just something that was passed down from history. He seemed to get that and understand, and we were friends. He called me from Oklahoma a few years later to tell me that he had become a Christian.

I know that this story won’t be repeated, and the cultural pressures are likely to be very different in your situation. You seem to be an open and kind person, so I suspect that you will be able to build bridges as you find areas of commonality. I have seen that recently with a Muslim woman who works with a family member of mine.

I would find it interesting to discuss government and moral issues with a Muslim to see if they would be sympathetic to the plight of people who believe in “traditional” morality and related issues in the US. Christians and Muslims have much in common in this regard, and we have some common opponents.

Ethan said,
“Staying out of politics would enable me to be a more effective witness in the country where I live. Which is the greater command: to respect my government through participation, or to evangelize the nations?
And yes, sometimes we do have to choose.”

I agree. I suppose the only thing I could quibble with is that you could vote, yet not say who you voted for.

I’m very happy the current administration, at least in some ways, leans in favor of conservative and Christian ideas. And I did vote. But our main job is to win people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
David R. Brumbelow

More than one person suggested remaining silent when asked, and yet that’s just not done here. They ask one another questions, and as expected everyone answers. Keeping quiet means I don’t trust them with my answers, and that means they can’t trust me.

As much as possible, I must find a way to be all things to these people. I eat what they eat. I ride the same buses. I learn their language, vacation in their country, figure out how to keep up with their soccer and basketball leagues. Despite being a coffee drinker, I consume the requisite amount of strong, hot tea while sitting in cafes filled with too much cigarette smoke.

When in Rome….

February 14, 2017 2:09 pm

Louis

I totally get that.

I would take the course of helping them to understand that just as I have my own religion, I come from a country where privacy is respected in that area.

They may not be able to take that in, so I get your concern.

I would tell them that they will just have to befriend me and get used to it.

We have a history of free voting here for 250 years. The world’s first modern democracy, and longest modern one surviving.

One of the reasons it survives is the respect and dignity given to the individual to do as he pleases in the political area, and to disclose what he wishes to disclose.

Countries that do not allow that are not truly free.

Again, I would never judge you for what you are doing.

It’s your call, and one thing I can see from your writing is that you are a conscientious believer and are a good representative of the faith!

Ethan, I too can empathize with your situation. I voted but not for Clinton or Trump. I have been in situations overseas where it was best not to talk politics and usually I could give an answer that would satisfy the questions without giving away too much. I was not in a Muslim country however.
I would comment on one statement you made. “Muslim residents of a Muslim country that needs Christ want to know my American Christian opinion of a divisive American (and presumed to be Christian) leader.” I cannot imagine anyone presuming he was a Christian based on his lifestyle and statements. I was in a majority Buddhist Country at the time of the election. They consider American a Christian country and their statements to me were how could a country that is Christian elect a man whose lifestyle contradicts so much of what Christianity teaches.

Quite often people on this side of the world self-identify as Muslim due to their family and community; adhering to the fundamentals of the faith is not necessary for the label to apply. Were you born here to a Muslim family? You’re a Muslim. Period.

They make the same assumption about the US. In their view, we are Christians by identity regardless of personal conviction or behavior. And, as everyone knows, the US is one of those Christian nations.

It’s just how they see it, and as you well know that’s the reality within which I must evaluate my actions.

Ethan, you ask, “Which is the greater command: to respect my government through participation, or to evangelize the nations?”

I think raising the question practically answers itself. But I would also add that I don’t think a conscientious choice to not choice, while foregoing participation, is by no means a form of disrespecting our government and its system.

That should say, “I don’t think a conscientious choice to not vote, while it does forego participation, is by no means a form of disrespecting our government and its system.”

February 14, 2017 4:34 pm

JON ESTES

A very good article Ethan. I also live in a Muslim country. One where the minister of security publically supported the Trump ban on the seven countries.

Due to the extremely high number of expats here (85+%), I deal less with local Muslims than I do with others. CNN is the news source of most of my non-USA church members and as a result, they did not and do not get the story from the two dominant perspectives (cons and libs). I have some great theologically conservative Christians who believe Hillary was the most prepared candidate to ever run for President because Obama said so.

I have encouraged my people, at times, to turn the news off and simply pray for the USA. This began prior to election day. I have some members who now say they would never want to go to USA or are glad they are not from there.

It is interesting how the world outside our borders look at us. It is also interesting how those inside the borders look at those outside them.

I did finally did tell them to stop asking the political questions. We have some great people in the church on both sides and we do not need to let that (US politics) split us. It was accepted and all is going great.

February 16, 2017 4:22 am

Bill Mac

I bring student groups abroad every year to Asia, and some of the students are worried now about the reception we will receive when we leave our own soil. I have tried to reassure them, but frankly I have the same concerns. I know some don’t care how the world views America, but I do.

February 16, 2017 7:45 am

Nate

Bill,

I appreciate and understand your sentiment about how the world may receive you because you’re from America. The problem is that it will always be dependent upon where in the world you go. We shouldn’t act as if the entirety of the world all thinks the same about America, or that it ever has.

During the Obama administration there were certainly plenty who thought the U.S. was weak and could be exploited. During the Bush administration there were those who believed he was trying to export America nation-building to every place in the Middle East, and Americans were resented and hated for it. And we could continue back through each and every administration.

The Point is this: If your concern is that the world needs to like you because you are an American, which I’m not saying you are saying, that is always going to be an unrealistic expectation. It will always depend on where you are going.

The same thing is true of Christians going to places in the world. Some places will hate you simply because you are a believer, some will be indifferent, and some tolerant. If we are trying to pander or coddle people to like us, we will always be disappointed.

If you are trying to imply that the world is now, somehow predisposed, to hate us because Trump was elected President, I’m sure you can find places where that is true and people who think that is true. There are also those who would disagree, particularly those in Europe where many countries are also seeing opposition to unfettered, unrestrained, immigration and the taking in of refugees. The political polls are swinging “yuge” towards those who want their borders more secure. Brexit is a perfect example of this.

February 16, 2017 10:18 am

JON ESTES

That’s awesome Bill. Keep taking as many students to the uttermost parts of the world. Give them the experience, even if it is difficult. Go with God and all will work out.